GB1064465A - Improvements in centrifugal separators - Google Patents

Abstract

1,064,465. Centrifugal separators. R. W. BERGSTROM. July 13, 1964, No. 28777/64. Heading B2P. A centrifuge for separating a mixture of materials of different densities of which a major one is liquid comprises a hollow rotor 254 rotatably mounted in a housing 252 and provided within the separation chamber 280 with a baffle 332 adjacent an inlet 316 for directing the entering mixture initially towards the inner surface of the rotor wall 266 and with vanes 336, 338 formed on the inner surface of the wall 266, the separated material of lesser density collecting into a substantiallyunobstructed axial zone 360 between the baffle 332 and a transverse wall 274 and being evacuated through an aperture 362 in the wall 274, and the separated material of greater density flowing from the rotor, via slots 340 formed in the rotor wall 266 between the vanes, into a surrounding annular chamber 284 and out, through an opening 342 in the housing, into sump 348 releasably secured to the housing. The rotor may consist only of the separation chamber 280 or it may, as shown, have a second-stage separation chamber 282 provided with outlet pipes 364 extending in equiangularly spaced positions diametrically across the chamber and anchored by their flared ends 366 in the rotor wall. Each pipe has two apertures 370 on opposite sides of the rotor axis and opens into an annular chamber 290 which is separated from the chamber 284 by flexible sealing rings 292. The housing 252 may be connected to an engine or other mounting by means of a flange 262 and the rotor has a shaft 318 connected by means of splines 330 to a source of power. A conical cup 346 extends from the opening 342 into the sump 348 which may be emptied periodically or be provided with automatic electrical discharge apparatus which controls the discharge of water from the sump according to the level reached by the water. Cleaning of the separator is effected by removing the end cover 258 of the housing withdrawing the rotor 254 removing the rotor cover 270 and immersing all parts in a cleaning solution and scraping and flushing. The single-stage separator may be used to separate water from contaminated fuel, the water collecting in the sump 348 and the purified fuel passing through the aperture 362 which may be connected by piping to an engine. The two-stage separator may be used for the purification of lubricating oil contaminated with sludge and metal particles. The sludge which is the heavier fraction, collects in the sump 348 and the oil with the metal particles in it flows through the aperture 362 into the chamber 282 where the metal particles collect on the inner surface of the chamber and the purified oil leaves through the tubes 364 and pass into the annular chamber 290 from which they are removed through an outlet 380 which may be connected to the engine lubricating system.